• The desire to harm yourself is a serious symptom of depression. It may last until your depression is completely treated. If you are planning on harming yourself, call the emergency department right away.
• This medicine does not mix well with many medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• Please read the medication guide.
• If you have an allergy to phenelzine or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have any of the following conditions: Liver disease, pheochromocytoma, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a weakened heart.
• If you are taking any of these medicines: Citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, or sertraline. Do not use within 2 weeks of other antidepressants.
• Fluoxetine should be stopped for at least 5 weeks before starting this medicine.
• If you cannot follow the diet guidelines needed when taking this medicine. See How Is It Best Taken? for more details.
• Phenelzine increases chemicals in the brain.
• In depression, sleep and appetite may improve quickly. Other depressive symptoms may take up to 4-6 weeks to improve.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Follow diet instructions. Certain foods and drinks taken with this medicine can cause very dangerous reactions such as sudden high blood pressure. To prevent these problems, get a list of foods to avoid from a nutritionist.
• Avoid eating aged cheeses and meats, soy sauce, soy bean including paste, Miso soup, Italian green beans (fava beans), snowpea or broad bean pods, sauerkraut, kimchee, concentrated yeast extracts (Marmite), red or white wine, and beer including alcohol-free beer.
• If medicine is stopped, follow diet for at least 2 more weeks.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood pressure and heart rate regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Created: 2006-10-13 15:02:03.0
Modified: 2010-03-25 12:25:35.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Wear disease medical alert identification.
• If you have been taking this medicine for several weeks, talk with healthcare provider before stopping. You may want to gradually withdraw this medicine.
• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Do not use over-the-counter medicines containing dextromethorphan or pseudoephedrine. Can cause life-threatening high blood pressure.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
• Avoid caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
• Headache.
• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.
• Inability to sleep.
• High blood pressure can rarely occur.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• If you are planning to harm yourself or the desire to harm yourself increases.
• Chest pain or pressure, fast heartbeat, or passing out.
• Confusion; very nervous; anger with sweating, shivering, stiffness, or shaking.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
